When to Go

When to Go

To residents, Johannesburg is a ghost town over the December holidays, when most leave for the seaside or the bush for the summer holidays. It's hot, but dry, and there's often an afternoon thunderstorm. There's little or no rain in winter (from March to September), and it gets bitterly cold, often dropping below freezing at night, though its often pleasant during the day. Johannesburg seems stark, with the cold gripping the concrete, but at least the aloes flower, some a deep red. Then the city starts to thaw. Jacaranda trees bloom, carpeting the streets with purple blossoms, and a local arts festival, Arts Alive, harkens the change of seasons. Jo'burgers boast that they enjoy the best climate in the world: not too hot in summer, not too cold in winter, and not prone to sudden temperature changes. Summer may have the edge, though: it's when the gardens and open spaces are at their most beautiful.